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A CONTRACT welder has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by the Kuala Lumpur High Court after pleading guilty to charges of handling funds on behalf of a Daesh operative ten years ago.
Judge Nurulhuda Nur’aini Mohamad Nor handed down the sentence to 40-year-old Mohd Zairul Mahmud, ordering the jail term to run concurrently from the date of his arrest on 23 July.
Mohd Zairul faced two charges of indirectly managing the property of a terrorist. He allowed RM10,000 to be deposited and RM6,000 withdrawn from his bank account for the benefit of the terrorist.
The transactions took place at a bank in Bandar Seri Alam, Masai, Johor Bahru, between 25 February and 8 May 2015. The offences were committed under Section 130Q(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine, and allows for the confiscation of any property handled.
According to court records, following a police report, officers from the Counter-Terrorism Division (E8) of Bukit Aman made the arrest at a premises in Masai, Johor, on suspicion of involvement in terrorist financing activities.
Investigations revealed that the accused had conducted multiple transactions through his bank account and money transfer agents to a male individual linked to Daesh during the specified period.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Yazid Mustaqim Roslan urged the court to impose a suitable sentence to serve as a deterrent for both the accused and the wider public.
Mohd Zairul, who represented himself in court, pleaded for a lighter sentence, citing family responsibilities. He explained that his wife was unemployed and he had four school-aged children to support. “I regret my actions, and I beg for a lighter sentence for the sake of my family,” he said.
The case underscores Malaysia’s continued vigilance against the financing of terrorism, even for activities dating back a decade, and highlights the legal consequences of aiding extremist organisations. - December 16, 2025